We at Catholic Business Journal found these wonder-filled Advent reflections from Father Matteo, the Prior General (in Italy) of the Camaldolese Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict, and written to the wide, international congregation of Camaldolese monks, nuns, lay oblates, friends and guests, to provide simple yet deep spiritual anchors to help you and…
The Pontifical Swiss Guard’s elegant “The Vatican Christmas Cookbook” is infused with the Spirit of Christmas with 100 recipes, stories and pictures that are an integral part of the Vatican Christmas narrative. In this beautifully illustrated book, authors David Geisser and Thomas Kelly have again successfully linked our physical and spiritual needs to food –…
Christmas is my favorite holiday and season of the year. Music adds so much to the magic of Christmas. We know that the first Christmas was the miracle of Christ’s birth to the Virgin Mary for the salvation of souls – God’s gift to the whole world of His only son Jesus Christ. Music lifts…
If you ask my family what I’m like during the holidays, they’ll tell you that I tend to go a little overboard. The get-togethers, the gifts, the good times with loved ones and treasured friends — I can’t get or give enough during this special season. My wife and kids make fun of me for…
In reflecting on this season of the year, I have often wondered how a Martian reporter would do a story on Christmas in the United States. If one only had the dominant cultural icons of TV, movies, news media and retail stores, my guess is that the Martian viewing audience wouldn’t have a clue as…
The Catholic Thing—Today we begin the liturgical season defined by hope. The preface for Mass says that we dare to hope. Indeed, hope seems a more daring venture than ever. And yet for precisely that reason, it holds more importance than ever. In keeping with Chesterton’s famous aphorism — Hope means hoping when things are…
CNA—A religious order in southern California is kicking off Advent with a digital calendar that allows Catholics to go more in-depth as they prepare for the Christmas season. The virtual calendar was launched on the first Sunday of Advent by the priests of the Norbertine order from St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California. The…
It was heartwarming seeing people across America saying prayers, paying respects and giving tributes during the service at the National Cathedral to the character, friendliness and love of family of George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States. It caused me to recall my personal experience with 41 in April 1981 when he…
A bishop condescendingly asked John Henry Newman, “Who are the laity?” To which the great saint, and, one hopes, future Doctor of the Church, replied that the Church would look foolish without them. The same might be said of those who are consecrated in the Religious life. The difference is that most of the Church…
December 23, 2008 I lit a candle today and prayed during Eucharistic Adoration in our parish chapel for a man I know who was hospitalized yesterday for the second time in two weeks. He is suffering from emphysema and an infection after recent surgery. The candle burned brightly, more brightly than the others, for the hour I was…
In these difficult times, it can be very challenging to think of others and not just ourselves. Our personal struggles often keep our focus inward and not outward towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. If these words resonate with you, I would like to provide some encouragement to break out of this inward focus…
